Husband and Wife American Civil War military team:

Col. John Turchin

John (Ivan Turchaninov) Turchin was the only “Russian” American general officer in the United States Civil War (he was actually Ukrainian). Trained at the Imperial Military School in St. Petersburg, he later became chief of staff among the Russian Guards and fought in the Crimean War and Hungary. He married the daughter of his commanding officer, Nadezhda Lovov, and immigrated to the United States. They changed their names to John and Nadine Turchin.

Turchin had met George McClellan during his service in the Crimean War. In 1861, the former Russian Imperial Army veteran was appointed as a colonel among the ranks of the Union army with the 19th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry of Chicago. They joined the war with the Army of the Ohio under Don Carlo Buell in June 1861.

‘A Monotony Full of Sadness’: The Diary of Nadine Turchin, May, 1863-April, 1864

Contrary to military regulations, Col. Turchin was accompanied by his wife Nadine in the military theater.

Nadine Turchin

“During her husband’s brief illness in 1862, she took his place as regimental commander but likely did not assume full command. Stories of her military savvy and heroism were reported by soldiers from Illinois and in later newspaper articles about her.” – wikipedia

In early 1862, his orders were to hold Nashville. Turchin convinced his commanding officer to head south. About the time of the Battle of Shiloh, they hit Huntsville, Alabama severing the rail communications of the Confederacy from east to west. The victory was short lived. During this time, the regiment under Turchin, was accused of pillaging Athens, Alabama.

In June 1862, he was Courts Marshaled “of conduct prejudicial to good order and military discipline.” One of the other charges included the presence of his wife with him in the field. This was the only point he plead guilty to. Col. Turchin was found guilty of all charges, but pardoned by Abraham Lincoln (after his wife interceded with the president). Nadine was designated a nurse, to comply with requirements to continue on with the 19th Illinois in combat operations.

Her personal diary starts in the summer of 1863. The previous diary has never been disclosed. This period is when much of the scandal occurs. Rumors of Turchin’s heavy-handed policies in Middle Tennessee, persist to this day. It was in April of 1863 the Union high-command issued General Order #38. This order authorized suppression of civilian decent with extreme force.

During the assault on Missionary Ridge, General Turchin’s brigade was one of the first to reach the summit. He also fought with distinction in the Atlanta Champaign.

Virtual Tour of the Battle Above the Clouds

The 3D like virtual tour has been updated with high-resolution 18mm zoom focus points on several new photo spheres.

“The Battle of Lookout Mountain was fought November 24, 1863, as part of the Chattanooga Campaign of the American Civil War. Union forces under Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker assaulted Lookout Mountain, Chattanooga, Tennessee, and defeated Confederate forces commanded by Maj. Gen. Carter L. Stevenson. Lookout Mountain was one engagement in the Chattanooga battles between Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s Military Division of the Mississippi and the Confederate Army of Tennessee, commanded by Gen. Braxton Bragg. It drove in the Confederate left flank and allowed Hooker’s men to assist in the Battle of Missionary Ridge the following day, which routed Bragg’s army, lifting the siege of Union forces in Chattanooga, and opening the gateway into the Deep South.” – wikipedia

Lookout Mountain – Point Park & Roper’s Rock

Lookout Mountain – Cravens House New York & Ohio Monuments

Lookout Mountain – Cravens House IL & PA Monuments

Links to Chickamauga Tour

360º Virtual Tour Note: get the full screen VR mode by clicking the icon in the lower left of the video frame. A zoom option is available also.

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3D like virtual tour of Chickamauga Creek, Brotherton Farm, Snodgrass Hill and Missionary Ridge. This tour follows the route of the 41st Tennessee* with Gregg’s Brigade at Chickamauga and with Maney’s Brigade at Missionary Ridge. Gregg’s Brigade had previously fought at Raymond, Mississippi in the Vicksburg Champaign. They would go on to fight in the Atlanta Champaign and Hood’s invasion of Middle Tennessee. They 41st were annihilated with Strahl’s Brigade at the Carter House in the Battle of Franklin.

Tour points are being revised with high-res 18mm focus. This tour includes several of those.

Note: get the full screen experience by clicking the icon in the lower left of the video frame. A zoom option is available also for reading the historical signage. Some markers are embedded in the floating icons.

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*my GGF 2nd Lt. Walter Scott Bearden and his twin brother 3rd Lt. Edwin Bearden fought with the 41st Tennessee here. Edwin was severely wounded at Brotherton Farm, and was disabled after that. Walter found the same fate at Jonesboro, Georgia, wounded 3 times in the Battle of Atlanta.

Marker Signage

Day 1 Chickamauga 7 AM

GREGG’S BRIGADE

JOHNSON’S DIVISION LONGSTREET’S CORPS BRIG. GEN. JOHN GREGG

SEPT. 19, 1863 – 1ST POSITION

41ST TENNESSEE LIEUT. COL. JAMES D. TILLMAN

The brigade moving from its bivouac a short distance in the rear, formed line of battle on this ground about 7 a.m. with Johnson’s Brigade on its right, and McNair’s Brigade in reserve. About 2 p.m. Heg’s and Carlin’s Union Brigades moved against the position from the direction of Viniard’s house. The brigade advanced with its division and soon became hotly engaged, fighting its way to a point near the LaFayette Road north of Viniard’s.

Day 2 Chickamauga 7 AM

GREGG’S BRIGADE

JOHNSON’S DIVISION LONGSTREET’S CORPS COL. CYRUS A. SUGG

SEPTEMBER 20, 1863, 7 A.M.

41ST TENNESSEE LIEUT. COL. JAMES D. TILLMAN

The four regiments of this brigade first named above constituted the reserve of Johnson’s Division as it was formed early Sunday morning Sept. 20th for attack.

The remaining regiments were on the left of Johnson’s Brigade in the front line. The brigades advanced about 11:10 A.M. with its division in the general attack, penetrating the Union line to the west of the Brotherton house. Upon reaching the Dyer field the brigade changed direction toward the right and assisted in capturing 15 guns on the crest northeast of Dyer’s.

Day 2 Chickamauga 11:30 AM

GREGG’S BRIGADE

JOHNSON’S DIVISION – LONGSTREET’S CORPS COL. CYRUS A. SUGG

SEPT. 20, 1863, 11.30 A.M. 2ND POSITION

41ST TENNESSEE LIEUT. COL. JAMES D. TILLMAN

This brigade was formed, in part, on the left of the division; the remainder, consisting of the first four regiments, was placed in a second line in rear as reserves. It advanced at 11.10 A.M. from the first crest east of the LaFayette Road. It occupied this line under heavy skirmish fire. In its advance towards the Dyer field it suffered greatly from the fire on a heavy force of the enemy, strongly posted to its right behind barricades of rails and fallen timber. The reserve passed to the front and the brigade dislodged this force, but with heavy loss. Upon reaching the Dyer field the brigade changed direction toward the right and assisted in capturing seventeen guns on the crest northwest of Dyer’s. The brigade next took part in the assault on Snodgrass Hill from the vicinity of Vittetoe’s.

Day 2 Chickamauga 2 PM

GREGG’S BRIGADE

JOHNSON’S DIVISION – LONGSTREET’S CORPS

COL. CYRUS A. SUGG

SEPTEMBER 20, 1863, 2 P.M.

41ST TENNESSEE LIEUT. COL. JAMES D. TILLMAN

Just before 2 P.M. the brigade advanced from this position, under cover of artillery fire towards the central ridge, distant about 400 yards. It reached this latter position, passed the right of Brannan’s and encountered the head of Steedman’s Division on the northern slope of the ridge. After a severe engagement with Steedman’s Division, this brigade, with Johnson’s on its left, fell back to its guns. Anderson’s Brigade on it right was also repulsed. Manigault’s and Deas, having prolonged Johnson’s line to the left, the whole advanced, and was again pushed back to its guns. Near sunset the brigade with Johnson’s and the right of Manigault’s advanced again, and followed Steedman’s troops, which had then withdrawn, to the bottom of the ravine back of the central crest where they had fought. The line then withdrew to the crest and bivouacked. Strength in action, September 19, 1352. Casualties: Killed 109; Wounded 474; Captured or Missing 18; Total 601. Percentage of Loss 44.45.

Missionary Ridge two months later

MANEY’S BRIGADE

WALKER’S DIVISION – HARDEE’S CORPS BRIG. GEN. GEORGE MANEY

NOV. 25, 1863

41ST TENNESSEE COL. ROBERT FARQHARSON

This brigade was dispatched with its division the afternoon of Nov. 23rd from the line of earthworks between Chattanooga Creek and Lookout Mountain to missionary Ridge where it took position a mile south of the Tunnel to observe the enemy’s forces which had captured Orchard Knob. About 2 P.M. Nov. 25th Vlaney’s Brigade sent to Gen. Hardee, reached Tunnel Hill during the hottest of the fighting, and was posted at this point in rear of Smith’s Texas Brigade. The 1st and 27th Tennessee, Col. Field was advanced to the front of the works and in conjunction with the 2nd, 15th and 24th Arkansas (consolidated) Col. Warfield of Govan’ s Brigade, and the 56th and 36th Georgia or Cumming’ s Brigade, charged the enemy’s line driving them down the western slope and oeyond its foot. A return attack was repulsed by the 50th Tennessee and troops of Cleburne’s Division, capturing several colors and many prisoners.

The Battle of Missionary Ridge was fought November 25, 1863, as part of the Chattanooga Campaign of the American Civil War. Following the Union victory in the Battle of Lookout Mountain on November 24, Union forces under Maj. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant assaulted Missionary Ridge and defeated the Confederate Army of Tennessee, commanded by Gen. Braxton Bragg…read more Wikipedia

Note: get the full screen experience by clicking the icon in the lower left of the video frame. A zoom option is available also for reading the historical signage. Some markers are embedded in the floating icons.

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